6 years or so ago (wow, time really flew by fast), I knew nothing about cooking. Even though I loved eating, I could barely microwave right. But then I relocated to a small town in Kansas. With just a handful of restaurants, I decided to learn how to cook as a survival skill. I clumsily about 60 recipes from watching the Food Network, mostly from Giada de Laurentiis’ show. Her mac and cheese recipe is still one of my favorites.

Then on my 40th birthday, I took the Culinary Institute of America’s 5-day culinary boot camp to learn the basic skills properly. the course was certainly expensive, but it was also one of the best investment I’ve ever made. Because not only has cooking brought me (and my friends) plenty of joy, I am eating and living much healthier because of this skill set. I highly recommend taking proper cooking classes to anyone.

In addition to the basic needs of eating and sustaining life, I also always see cooking as a form of artistic expression. I guess that’s why I enjoy it so much. And this was the reason why I wanted to enter a cooking contest. Just to see if what I come up with makes sense to experts. So getting this validation from the Taste of Home contest really means something to me. I’m also glad that I was a runner-up in my first contest, instead of winning it outright. (Although it would have been nice too!) But I do like having motivations to improve. Here is the recipe.

Oh, by the way, a couple of years ago, I got to tell Giada in person about how I learned cooking from her. That was quite a moment.

DIRECTIONS
1. Pat the chicken dry with paper towel. Season the chicken with salt, pepper and paprika
2. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in Dutch oven or any other heavy bottom skillet at medium high heat
3. When the oil is hot, place chicken in Dutch oven to sear, about 3-4 mins for each side. Remove and set aside. Let stand for at least 5 mins. Cut into strips.
4. Add mushrooms to Dutch oven. Saute for about 10 mins, until the mushrooms have released liquid and started browning.
5. Add onions, saute for about 3-4 mins, until soft.
6. Add garlic, and stir for 1 min.
7. Add white wine, and deglaze any browned bits that are stuck to the Dutch oven.
8. Add chicken stock, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a simmer. Then reduce heat to medium low.
9. Add chicken and any juice from the plate. Cook for another 10 mins until everything is heated through.
10. Meanwhile, cook egg noodles according to package directions. Drain and return to the pot. Off the heat, add butter and stir to melt.
11. Add creme fraiche, and parsley to the Stroganoff. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.
12. Serve over egg noodles. Garnish with parsley.

In 2011, I was 243lbs. Then I started yoga, and I started this project. The goal was get to within the healthy weight range of my height and frame, and the target weight was set at 185lbs (which was also my weight when I was in my mid 20’s).
Current weight: 184.8lbs. Total weight loss: 58.2lbs.
Lessons learned: 1) it’s better to go slow, and gradually change your lifestyle and eating habits, rather than going on those crash diets to get instant but usually short lived results. 2) It’s much easier to change your lifestyle and eating habits if you’re comfortable/enjoy cooking your own food.

]]>http://www.45before45project.com/2017/01/06/goal-36-achieve-and-maintain-ideal-weight-achieved/feed/01085About 3 months left!http://www.45before45project.com/2017/01/02/about-3-months-left/
http://www.45before45project.com/2017/01/02/about-3-months-left/#commentsMon, 02 Jan 2017 15:12:22 +0000http://www.45before45project.com/?p=1081It’s the beginning of 2017, and it’s about 3 months or so away from my 45th birthday, so this is a good time to have a review of my project so far. Of the 45 things:

Completed: 30
Tango in Buenos Aires (completed: 18th March, 2016)

See a football match at Estádio do Maracanã, Rio, Brazil (completed: 14th August, 2013)

Become an expert in multiple disciplines – Publish articles or present at conferences in 5 different fields.

Learn 150 interesting words

Skiing

No idea when: 5

Set foot on all 7 continents

Publish a short story

Write a screenplay

Write a book

Successfully start a slow clap

]]>http://www.45before45project.com/2017/01/02/about-3-months-left/feed/21081Goal 43: See Leo Messi play in person – Completed!!http://www.45before45project.com/2016/07/15/goal-43-see-leo-messi-play-in-person-completed/
http://www.45before45project.com/2016/07/15/goal-43-see-leo-messi-play-in-person-completed/#respondFri, 15 Jul 2016 14:43:37 +0000http://www.45before45project.com/?p=1068The first time I tried to see Messi play in person ended in failure. I was in Europe and flew to Barcelona to see the last match of the season, when Barca had already won the league. Messi was injured and didn’t played at all. However, I got to experience Nou Camp, which as awesome, so it was not a total waste.

This time, it’s Copa America in the U.S.. Argentina plays Panama in Chicago on June 6th. I bought the match ticket and plane ticket to ORD. And lo and behold, Messi got injured just before the tournament. He missed the first match of the tournament.

As we settled into our seats, you could just tell that the whole stadium (well, maybe apart from the Panama fans) was there to see Messi. He was on the bench, as a substitute. So, I was hoping that the game would not be too easy for Argentina for them to rest him completely. Luckily, even though Argentina was a goal ahead, it was not really a cakewalk for them. And at the hour mark, it was time for Messi.

Within 20 mins, he scored 3 goals, and then made another. We got our Messi experience.

]]>http://www.45before45project.com/2016/07/15/goal-43-see-leo-messi-play-in-person-completed/feed/01068Goal #3 Tango in Buenos Aires and Goal #20 Be comfortable at at least one ballroom dance – DONE!http://www.45before45project.com/2016/03/31/goal-3-tango-in-buenos-aires-and-goal-20-be-comfortable-at-at-least-one-ballroom-dance-done/
http://www.45before45project.com/2016/03/31/goal-3-tango-in-buenos-aires-and-goal-20-be-comfortable-at-at-least-one-ballroom-dance-done/#respondThu, 31 Mar 2016 00:30:50 +0000http://www.45before45project.com/?p=1059For Spring Break 2016 and my 44th birthday, I went to Buenos Aires and took 2 hours of tango lessons each day for 5 days. At the end, I was nowhere close to being good, but I was comfortable enough. I even danced at a Milonga!

Here is my 3rd 1-sec everyday diary. From the day after my 43rd birthday to my 44th in Buenos Aires, I filmed one second of video everyday. Here is my year in about 7 mins.

Oct 21st, 2015. Volunteered for a day at the panda reserve near Chengdu, China. I got to cleaned their cages, and fed them. At the end of the day, a pic with the cutest baby panda cub!!

]]>http://www.45before45project.com/2015/11/04/panda-panda-panda-goal-30-41-done/feed/01051Goal 44: Have myself 3D Printed – DONE!!http://www.45before45project.com/2015/07/23/goal-44-have-myself-3d-printed-done/
http://www.45before45project.com/2015/07/23/goal-44-have-myself-3d-printed-done/#respondThu, 23 Jul 2015 14:02:31 +0000http://www.45before45project.com/?p=1044The original goal was to “Have my portrait painted”. But I thought the goal seemed “so last century” and changed it to something a bit more current and decided to “Have myself 3D Printed”. I went to a place when I was in L.A. and had my image scanned. And here it is!!

I’m going to take pics of Mini-Me everywhere and call the series “Selfless Selfies”.

Bought my first iron, ironing board and my mom gave me a lesson. I have to say, ironing is good skill to have, but it really isn’t the most efficient use of time. It takes quite long to get a short nice and crisp. I heard that steamers are much better. Still, now if there is an emergency situation when I have to look sharp, I can at least make my shirt wrinkle free!

It was still good! Food memory is such a powerful thing. It totally brought me back to my childhood eating that Portuguese Chicken.

23. Conquer the fear of doing a handstand – CHECK!

Practicing handstand this morning before the library opens. Still not great at it at all. I could only hold it for a few seconds. But the fear of going upside down is pretty manageable now, which was the original goal.